Accommodation Shortlist
Specific apartments for 28-night stay in Funchal
Accommodation Shortlist - Funchal, Madeira
Stay dates: 24 July - ~19 August 2026 (25-26 nights) Guests: 2 adults Budget: Under £5,000 total Exchange rate: EUR 1 ≈ £0.86 (approximate, used throughout) Researched: 2-3 March 2026
☘ Tip
A full 28-night continuous block is not available at any shortlisted property for peak summer 2026. All Booking.com properties show fragmented calendars with mid-August gaps. The realistic target is 25-26 nights. The earliest check-in is 24 July (IoM schools close 23 July; overnight in Manchester required).
Requirements Checklist
- Self-catering apartment (not hotel, not resort, not aparthotel)
- 1 bedroom with double bed
- Full kitchen (big enough to cook proper meals)
- Nice bathroom
- Balcony
- Washing machine
- Near the sea
- Reliable WiFi (essential; Richard working remotely for 3 weeks)
- Desk or workspace area
- Air conditioning (preferred, not essential; Funchal summer highs are 24-28C with Atlantic breeze)
Active Shortlist
1. Funchal Old Town Studios - Historic Atlantic View
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Location | Zona Velha (Old Town), Funchal |
| Area | Zona Velha (top-choice area) |
| Booking.com score | 8.9 / 10 (143 reviews) |
| Price (26 nights) | 24 Jul - 19 Aug: from £2,229 |
| Price (25 nights) | 24 Jul - 18 Aug: from £2,142; 25 Jul - 19 Aug: from £2,147 |
| Per night | ~£85 |
| Availability note | Full 28-night block not available. Calendar has mid-August gaps. |
| Genius discount | TBC |
| Room types | Studio with Garden View, Studio with Ocean View |
| Kitchen | Stovetop, microwave, refrigerator, kitchenware, toaster, electric kettle, coffee machine. No oven. |
| Washing machine | Yes |
| Balcony | Not confirmed in facilities list |
| Sea view | City view and landmark view listed. “Atlantic View” in name but sea view not confirmed in facilities. |
| WiFi | Free WiFi in all areas (speed not listed) |
| Workspace | No desk listed |
| A/C | No |
| Parking | None available |
| Extras | Private beach area, garden, beachfront location |
| Location score | 9.8 (excellent) |
| URL | booking.com/hotel/pt/funchal-old-town-studios-historic-atlantic-view |
Pros: Best location on the shortlist (location score 9.8, right in Zona Velha). Private beach area. Cheapest option at ~£85/night. Beachfront. Well within budget at £2,142-£2,229 for 25-26 nights.
Cons: No oven (stovetop and microwave only, limiting for proper cooking). No A/C. No desk. No parking. Balcony and sea view not confirmed despite the name. Studio format may feel cramped for 25-26 nights. Lower score (8.9). Facilities score only 8.3.
Verdict: Best location and by far the cheapest option. The lack of oven and desk are notable gaps for a working stay. Now the leading contender given the elimination of better-equipped properties.
2. Ocean Pearl Apartment X
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Location | 1.1 km from centre, São Martinho |
| Area | São Martinho / between centre and Lido |
| Booking.com score | 9.4 / 10 (54 reviews) |
| Price (28 nights) | 30 Jul - 27 Aug: from £3,149; 31 Jul - 28 Aug: from £3,145 |
| Per night | ~£112 |
| Availability note | Not available from 24 Jul. Earliest 4-week block starts 30 Jul. |
| Genius discount | Included in prices above |
| Bedrooms | 1 bedroom (1 double bed + sofa bed in living room) |
| Kitchen | Full kitchen: oven, stovetop, microwave, refrigerator, kitchenware, electric kettle, toaster |
| Washing machine | Yes |
| Balcony | Yes |
| Sea view | Yes |
| WiFi | Free WiFi in all areas (speed not listed) |
| Workspace | No desk listed |
| A/C | No |
| Parking | Free private parking on-site |
| Size | 80 m² |
| Extras | Lift, bidet, wheelchair accessible |
| URL | booking.com/hotel/pt/ocean-pearl-apartment-x |
Pros: Spacious at 80 m². Full kitchen with oven. Sea view balcony. Free parking. Lift. Double bed confirmed. Good review score (9.4). Wheelchair accessible.
Cons: Not available for exact dates (earliest 4-week block starts 30 July, a week later than needed). No A/C. No desk. 1.1 km from centre. Only 54 reviews.
Verdict: Good all-round apartment but the date availability is a problem. The earliest 4-week block starts 30 July, six days after the target check-in of 24 July. Would require shifting the entire trip by a week.
Eliminated Properties
Luxury View Apartment Funchal
Eliminated: Fragmented calendar with no continuous block longer than 8 nights from 24 July. Available dates (24-31 Jul, 5-9 Aug, 17-21 Aug) are separated by multi-day gaps. Nightly rate of £369-407 would also put any multi-week stay well over £5,000 budget (~£9,200+ for 25 nights).
Atlantic Ocean View Apartment
Eliminated: Not available for more than one night for Jul-Aug 2026 dates.
Old Town Apartment Sea View
Eliminated: Sold out for Jul-Aug 2026 dates. Booking.com redirects to search results with a “closed” message.
Apartments Madeira Old Town
Eliminated: Only Two-Bedroom Apartments available for these dates, with 4 single beds (no double bed). Genius price £5,014 + £24 taxes = £5,038, which is over budget. No washing machine, no A/C, no desk, no balcony confirmed in facilities.
Ivens Residence
Eliminated: Over budget. One-Bedroom Apartment (80 m², 1 large double bed) priced at £5,899 + £24 taxes = £5,923 with Genius 10% discount. Ticked every other box: A/C, desk, washer + dryer, full kitchen with oven, 2 balconies, soundproofing, lift. City view only (no sea view). Free cancellation before 3 July 2026.
Comparison Summary
| Property | Area | Score | Price | Nights | Kitchen | Oven | Washer | Sea View | Balcony | WiFi Speed | Desk | A/C | Parking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old Town Studios | Zona Velha | 8.9 | ~£2,229 | 26 (24 Jul - 19 Aug) | Partial | No | Yes | ? | ? | Free | No | No | None |
| Ocean Pearl Apt X | S. Martinho | 9.4 | ~£3,149 | 28 (30 Jul - 27 Aug) | Full | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Free | No | No | Free |
Recommended Next Steps
Log into Booking.com to check Genius pricingDone (3 March 2026).Check Airbnb for propertiesDone. All Airbnb options eliminated.Email An Island ApartDone. Both properties over budget, removed.Wait for calendars to open on Luxury View Apt and Atlantic Ocean ViewDone. Both eliminated (fragmented/no availability).- Decide between the two remaining options:
- Old Town Studios (26 nights, 24 Jul - 19 Aug, ~£2,229) - best location and price, but no oven, no desk, studio format
- Ocean Pearl Apt X (28 nights, 30 Jul - 27 Aug, ~£3,149) - better apartment but requires shifting the trip start to 30 July
- Consider date flexibility for Ocean Pearl Apartment X. Could the trip shift by 6 days to start 30 July?
- Consider broadening the search on Booking.com with filters for apartment + 1 bedroom if neither remaining option is right. Peak summer availability in Funchal is extremely limited.
Last updated: 3 March 2026. Down to 2 properties from original 7. Luxury View Apartment eliminated (fragmented calendar, ~£370/night = way over budget). Atlantic Ocean View eliminated (not available for more than 1 night). Old Town Apartment Sea View eliminated (sold out). Apartments Madeira Old Town eliminated (no double bed, over £5k). Ivens Residence eliminated (over £5k). Tanoeiros Studios eliminated (no double bed). Capital Sea View eliminated (no A/C). All Airbnb and An Island Apart options also eliminated.